Adolescent Eating Disorders Program

Eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia, and ARFID (Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder). are serious medical conditions that require professional, compassionate treatment.

Whether you are a parent who is worried about your child/teenager’s unhealthy eating habits and weight loss or a teenager who has been diagnosed with an eating disorder, the Adolescent Eating Disorders Program at Baystate Health is a professional and supportive resource that can help.

Talk to your child’s primary care provider about a referral to our outpatient Eating Disorders Program. You can also learn more by calling us at 413-794-5437.

Recognize the Signs of Eating Disorders

It’s time to call for help if you recognize these signs of an eating disorder in your child or yourself:

• Sudden changes in what you eat or how you eat
• Significantly restricting what you eat and how much you eat
• Extreme fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
• Feeling out-of-control about your eating habits
• Linking self-esteem to weight
• Feeling addicted to food and experiencing uncontrollable cravings

Expert Care for Children with Eating Disorders

Our Eating Disorders team provides thoughtful and compassionate diagnosis and treatment for eating disorders.

First, we focus on stabilizing your child/teenager’s eating behaviors and health. We’ll then work on the underlying issues that may have led to an eating disorder, including any physical and emotional health concerns.

Our goal is to give your child/teenager the support, education, and tools for long-term recovery. We coach teens and adolescents on healthy nutrition choices and how to return to school activities and friends after treatment. We can suggest additional resources, as needed.

Unless complications require an admission, treatment is typically outpatient – meaning your child will return home every day.

Our team of experts includes:

• Adolescent medicine specialists
• Specialists in child psychiatry and behavioral medicine
• Dietitians
• Nurses

Family-Based Treatments

Family support for children with eating disorders is an important part of recovery. Family-based treatment and therapies can help your child/teenager learn healthy eating patterns that work in real life, for the long term.